Le Nord : revue internationale des Pays de Nord - 01.06.1939, Blaðsíða 567

CHRONIQUE TRIMESTRIELLE 557
to eavesdrop suspectable telephonic
conversations, to retain letters etc.
The torpedoing and capturing of
vessels to and from Swedish ports
made the suspicion likely that a far-
reaching espionage system was at
work against Swedish shipping, and
by the new powers given to the
police-authorities Swedish harbour
areas are now barred and guarded.
An effective propaganda all over
the country has been carried through
to warn people against espionage
and exhort to silence, vigilance and
sense of responsibility.
At the outbreak of the war it
was suggested from various sides
that during this critical time a
national cabinet ought to unite all
responsible political powers. Instead
of the existing government of social-
democrats and the farmers’ union a
government including also represen-
tatives of the Right and the people’s
party ought to be formed. The
Prime Minister P. A. Hansson, who
also is the leader of the social-demo-
crats, already at the end of August,
however, was able to report that he
had discussed the question both with
his own government colleagues and
with the leaders of the Right and
the people’s party, and that they
had agreed that for the present there
was no reason for such an ar-
rangement. Later on the parlia-
mentary group of the farmers’
umon, however, recommended an
appeal to the Right and the people’s
party to learn, whether they might
be willing to be represented in the
government in consideration of the
existing serious situation, when the
events in the world demanded
continuous attention and neces-
sitated far-reaching interference in
trade and private relations. Fresh
discussion followed, after which the
prime-minister gave as his opinion
that no such change in the situation
had happened as to necessitate an
alteration of the opinion he former-
ly had expressed. The leader of the
Right declared that he felt fully
conscious that an aggravation in
the situation of foreign policy
quickly might occasion such dangers
to the neutrality, integrity and eco-
nomic existence of the country, that
a coalition cabinet must be con-
sidered as necessary. According to
information from the government
the situation at present was not
such, and it was important that a
national exertion of this kind was
postponed till a time, when the
danger from abroad gave a real basis
for a coalition cabinet and simul-
taneously also for its solidarity and
vigorous activity. However, the aim
aspired to by the formation of such
a government could not be attained
through a reconstruction or supple-
menting of the present cabinet.
There must be a new task to form
a government with full liberty as
to its composition. The leader of
the people’s party answered that his
group did not raise the question of